Structure for display fixtures and the like



April 20, 1937. E. R. ERICKSON STRUCTURE FOR DIS-PLAY FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1956 :5wew/ar irwi/ 2'7. Z v /1 Z Z 6 5 l W Z M3 0 rfl/ Patented Apr. 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STRUCTURE F OR DISPLAY FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Ernest R. Erickson, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to C. E. Erickson Company, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application July 6, 1936, Serial No. 89,112

5 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable and eflicient mechanical structure for display fixtures and other articles of furniture to which the structure may be adapted.

More particularly, it is my purpose to provide a very eflicient supporting structure, whereby one or more fiat members, such as shelves or the like, may be conveniently assembled and supported in a complete rack.

Another object is to provide such a supporting structure having parts which may be quickly and easily assembled in connection with such fiat members to form a strong and rigid structure.

More particularly in this connection, it is my object to provide a combination of one or more such flat members with preferably a plurality of supporting devices, each comprising a somewhat resilient tube bent at its center to form what may be a base, with side portions inclined inwardly and upwardly and with parts extending upwardly from such inclined portions through or into holes in the flat member or members, the upright parts being provided with suitable holes, and to provide supporting bars with their ends received in such holes. Such a device may have its upright parts sprung away from each other for the installation of the bars, and the flat members may then be slid down on the upright members to the bars, by which they are then supported.

Another object is to provide in connection with such a device, supporting elements having the form of an inverted V, the central part of which supports the top member and the ends of which are projected into holes in the spaced upright members.

Still another purpose is to provide such a supporting device of the kind which can be employed in pairs, the central lower part of each supporting structure, preferably having an up-curved part. Where a flat member is mounted on the upright portions of a pair of such supports, a substantially V-shaped member can be arranged below the flat member to support the ends of the V-shaped member, being extended into holes with the central parts of the supporting devices.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my structure for bread racks and the like, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a structure embodying my invention, embodiedin the form of a. bread rack.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same shown on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my invention as embodied in the form of a bread rack, having the two spaced supporting members A, on which are mounted the three shelves B, C and D. The shelves B and D are simply preferably fiat laminated boards and the shelf C is like the shelves B and D, except that C has a metal upright wall indicated generally at It].

In the particular design under consideration,

the shelf D is slightly shorter than the shelf C and the shelf B is slightly longer than the shelf C, while the shelf C is of less widththan the 1 shelf B and the shelf D is still narrower. Thus the shelf D can be nested in the shelf C, for packing and transportation.

The support A is made of a length of hollow tubing which is somewhat resilient, which is indicated generally at H. The length of tubing I l is bent at the center to form a base, having spaced portions l2-adapted to rest on the floor, and an upwardly bent central portion I3 connecting them.

The base has the side members l4 inclined inwardly and upwardly and the two parts l5 ben't upwardly from the inclined parts l4 and there normally parallel with each other.

The portions l3 have holes IS in their upper walls midway between the portions l2.

A member E preferably in the form of a rod is bent substantially in the form of an inverted V with a flat apex with its ends bent horizontally as at I8 and then laterally as at I 9 to project into the holes [6.

At proper locations depending on the location and number of the flat shelf-like members, the inner adjacent faces of the upright parts l5 are provided with opposite pairs of holes 20. Sometimes and where desired, I provide below a pair of holes 20 another somewhat similar pair of opposite holes 2|.

For further supporting the shelf-like portions, I provide cross bars 22, which preferably have reduced ends 23 for insertion into the holes 20.

Cne of the advantages of a structure of the kind herein described lies in the convenience with which the parts may be assembled together into a completed rack.

In such assembly, the bent portions I9 and I8 and one end of a member I! of the rod E are inserted into a hole l6 of one of the supports A. The corresponding bent portions of the opposite member I! of the rod E are then inserted into the hole 5 of another support A.

Then if the bar 22 is to be used, the upright parts l5 are sprung apart to permit the ends 23 of the bar 22 to be received in an opposite pair of holes 28.

The members l5 when released from strain will assume their normal upright positions.

The flat shelf-like portions Band C have holes 24 extending vertically through them to receive the upright parts l5.

The flat shelf member B is then slid onto "the members I5 from the top until it drops to and rests upon a pair of bars 22 and the central flat apex of the member E.

The bars 22 may be further rigidly fastened to the shelf B by means of bolts 25 and nuts 26 if desired.

For installing the shelf C, I may use another member F also in the form of an inverted V with a somewhat flattened apex made of a rod, having its ends 2'! horizontal.

The members I5 are sprung apart to permit the ends 21 to be inserted in opposite holes 2!. They are then again sprung apart for the installation of another bar 22.

The shelf C is then slipped over the tops of the members If: and allowed to slide down until it rests on its bars 22.

The flat apex of the member F indicated at 28 supports a bar 22 and the shelf C.

The bars 22 for the shelf C may be connected with the shelf C for a more rigid structure by means of bolts 25 and nuts 2t, such as have been described.

Where a top shelf, such as D, is used, I prefer ably provide counterbore holes 3!] in theunder side thereof to receive the upper ends of the members l5.

Before installing the shelf D, the upper ends of the members I5 are sprung apart to permit the installation of bars 22 already described, and then the shelf D is installed on the member l5, and their upper ends received in its socket-like holes 20.

The bar 22 for the shelf D may be fastened to it by bolts and nuts as already explained in connection with the description of the other shelves.

It will be seen from the foregoing that there is thus produced a very strong rigid rack. or the like with one or more shelves as may be desired, each firmly supported on the upright portions I5.

I preferably use a bolt 3i and a nut 32 to fasten the apex of each member F to its adjacent bar 22 and to the shelf C. Likewise I preferably use a bolt 33 and nut 34 to fasten the central fiat apex of the member E indicated at 35 to the shelf B.

It will be understood that this structure may be varied in a considerable number of ways for adaptation to various kinds of furniture, and it is my purpose to cover by my claims any modifications in structure herein illustrated, which may be reasonably included within their scope and within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the kind described, supports comprising a pair of tubes of somewhat resilient material, each having its central part bent to form a base with side members inclined upwardly, and having normally parallel parts extending upwardly from the inclined members, and capable of being sprung apart, said upright parts having holes in their adjacent walls, and bars having reduced ends projecting into said holes, which bars may be thus installed by first springing the upright parts of each support apart and then permitting them to return to normal with the bars in place, and a fiat member having holes receiving the upright parts, said flat member resting on the bars.

jected into the respective holes in the upright members and their central parts in supporting relation to the flat member.

' 3. In a device of the kind described, a fiat member having vertical holes extending through it, a pair of supports, each comprising a somewhat resilient tube having its lower central part bent to form a base with side members inclined upwardly and through said holes, said upright parts having opposite pairs of holes below the flat member, bars under the flat member, each having its ends received in one pair of holes, and inverted substantially V-shaped elements each having its ends projected into the holes in the upright members and its central part in supporting relation to the bar.

4. In a device of the class described, a fiat member having holes countersunk in its under side, a pair of supports, each comprising a somewhat resilient tube having its lower central part bent to form a base with side members inclined upwardly, and into said holes, said upright parts having opposite holes in their adjacent walls just below the fiat member, and bars in supporting position below the flat member, each having its ends projected into holes in the upright members.

5. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced supports, each comprising a somewhat resilient tube bent to form a base with side members inclined upwardly and inwardly and with parts extendingv upwardly from said inclined side members, a shelf having holes through which said upright parts are extended, the central parts of the bases having holes in their upper parts, and a member substantially in theform .of an inverted V, having a flat, central apexrand having out-turned ends terminating in laterally inclined portions projecting through the holes in the bases, said shelf being supported on said apex. I

ERNEST R. ERICKSON. 

